Chicago Children's Museum
Simple Machines: Force and Motion
Get things moving with this elementary science unit on simple machines. Through a series of nine lessons including teacher demonstrations, hands-on activities, and science experiments, young scientists learn about forces, motion, and...
Curated OER
Converting among Metric Units
In this metric conversion learning exercise, students convert twelve metric measurements using conversion factors to show their work.
Curated OER
Measuring Lesson Plans and Metric System Conversions
Students may review measurement, and metric system conversions by measuring one another and the world around them.
Curated OER
Metric Measuring
Students design their dream gardens and work together to build a class model. They use software to create a virtual model. They only use metric measurements.
Adrian College
The Universe
Young scientists create a simulation of Hubble's law. Introducing the Big Bang Theory using balloons and a simple lab activity, scholars complete a data table and perform analysis.
Curated OER
Perplexing Perimeters
In the process of constructing their own "rulers" Students develop a sense of the size of a centimeter and meter. Students select the appropriate "ruler" for the tasks. Finally, 3rd graders calculate the perimeter of objects using...
Curated OER
Parachutes: What Affects a Parachute
Students create a simple paper parachute. In this parachute design lesson, students examine the effects of the wind and make napkin parachutes.
Curated OER
Fly Me to the Moon!
In this Moon travel activity, students construct a simple rocket trajectory called the Hohmann Transfer orbit using a compass, string, paper and a pencil. Students solve 2 problems which include finding the number of hours it takes to...
Teach Engineering
What is a Nanometer?
Teams learn about the size of a nanometer by measuring objects and converting those measurements. A worksheet then tests the groups' abilities to use nanometers by having them determine the size of objects that are too small to measure.
Curated OER
Simple Machines, Odd Machine
Students examine levers and design a machine that uses a lever as a central component. In this lever machine lesson students test various machine designs and evaluate their effectiveness.
Curated OER
Just Me and My Shadow
Middle schoolers take measurements throughout the day using a simple sundial called a gnomon. They record the results on a Data Log and convert from English units to metric (S.I.) units. Data points are plotted on the same graph and...
Curated OER
Center of Gravity
Students work with boxes and weights to find the center of gravity. In this simple center of gravity experiment, students find success in using weights to move the center of gravity. Students will be assessed at the end of the activity...
Curated OER
Build Your Own Telescope
Students build a simple astronomical telescope from two lenses and some tubes.
Virginia Department of Education
Modeling the Big Bang Theory
Young astronomers learn about the Big Bang Theory and redshift through a hands-on activity in the last installment of a three-part series. Participants draw dots on balloons and then inflate them to model how galaxies moved farther apart...
Curated OER
How Do Your Students Measure Up?
Students participate in a paper folding activity that has them create a ruler for measuring to the closest 1/16th of an inch.
Curated OER
Learning to Use the Words Inches, Feet, and Yards
Students use a variety of measuring devices including a ruler, yardstick, and tape measure to accurately measure objects in inches, feet, and yards. They report on these measurements, both orally and in writing.
Curated OER
How Fast Does This Tree Grow?
Students work together to determine how fast trees go. They make predictions and complete simple measurements. They answer questions to end the lesson plan.
Curated OER
Rocket Design: Aerodynamics, Trajectories
Pupils use science inquiry skills to build and launch a simple rocket, from several wooden launch pads of various angles, to determine what trajectory angle carry a rocket the greatest distance.
LABScI
Potential and Kinetic Energy: The Roller Coaster Lab
Ron Toomer, a famous roller coaster designer, suffered from motion sickness. Pupils design their own roller coasters, learning about potential and kinetic energy in the process. Labs focus on the importance of drop height, energy...
Curated OER
Teaching About Plate Tectonics and Faulting Using Foam Models
Young scientists learn about plate tectonics and the three different types of faults (normal, reverse, and strike-slip) using foam models. The activity also covers common types of locations where these faults are found.
Curated OER
Seeing What You Cannot See--RADAR
Student imitate mapping the ocean floor using the basic concepts of radar. Then they explain what radar is and how it workds. All of their measurements are recorded on a data sheet. Then the data is entered into a spreadsheet program. A...
Curated OER
Oscillations
Students construct and compare the actions of various pendulums. In this pendulum motion lesson, students build and test different types of pendulums. They conduct experiments with the length of the swing arm and apply mathematical...
Curated OER
Ships to a New World
Students experiment with buoyancy as a force. In this buoyancy lesson plan, students access an assigned website to examine the sailing vessels that came to the New World. They work as teams to build boats out of aluminum foil to see...
Curated OER
Surface to Volume Ratios
Young scholars measure the rate of diffusion and to calculate the surface area to volume ratios of varying cell sizes. The lesson is very clearly organized with a useful student worksheet provided. They perform a lab experiment which is...